Retaining means for receptacle-covers.



L. F. RYAN.

RETAINING MEANS FOR REGEPTACLE CQVERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1911.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Zaw/"erzce FRyan COLUMEM PLANOGRAPH Ell-,WASHINBTON, D1 cv W1 TNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

LAWRENCE F. RYAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RETAINING MEANS FOR RECEPTACLE COVERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE F. RYAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Retaining Means for Receptacle-Covers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in retaining means for receptacle covers and more especially in that class of such devices which are particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with milk receptacles and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character of a simple and comparatively inexpensive nature having certain features of novelty and improvement whereby the closure of the receptacle is effectively held against removal by unauthorized persons.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improved retaining means whereby certain important advantages are attained, and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claim.

In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view taken through a milk receptacle with a retaining means for the closure thereof constructed in accordance with my invention in operative position, and Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1.

In these views 1 denotes a receptacle herein shown as of the type ordinarily used for containing milk or the like and 2, 2 the lifting handles therefor and 3 the cover or closure all of whichmay be of any preferred form as the construction thereof forms no particular feature of the present invention.

4 denotes a fiat strip herein disclosed as circular in form having the inturned annular flange 5 which upon the application of my invention is adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the closure 3 of the receptacle, the diameter of the endless strip 4 being substantially the same as the diameter of the head of the closure. This dimension of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1911.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Serial No. 650,545.

endless strip 4 need not be exact as it is only necessary that the inturned annular flange 5 be capable of resting upon the upper surface of the cap or closure 3. I have also found it to be of advantage to have the flange curved in cross section to correspond with the upper surface of such cap in order that the retaining device may rest the more snugly thereon. At diametrically opposite points the endless strip 4 is provided with the depending straps 6 and 7 rigidly secured to the lower marginal portion of the endless strip 4 by the rivets 8 or other anchoring means. The strap 6 has its lower end portion turned inwardly and upwardly as at 9 to produce a hook like member adapted to engage one of the handles 2 of the receptacle.

'It is obvious that the hook like member may be extended in an outward direction but I have found in practice that by positioning such hook like member as herein disclosed the possibility of forcibly releasing the same by a suitable tool or implement is reduced to a minimum. It is also to be observed that the strap 6 is of such a curvature as to permit the hook. like member to be readily engaged by the co-acting handle 2 when applying the retaining device into operative position.

The strap 7 is of such a length as to extend through and beneath the opposite handle 2 and to the lower end portion of such strap 7 is hingedly secured an auxiliary strap or hasp member 10 which is adapted to be swung back upon the strap 7 and such auxiliary strap or hasp 10 is provided with the longitudinally extended elongated slot 11 through which the staple 12 or equivalent means carried by the strap 7 adjacent its outer end portion is adapted to pass. The auxiliary strap or hasp member 10 is then held against outward movement relative to the strap member? proper by a lock or other equivalent means 14.

The auxiliary strap or hasp member 10 is provided with the .belly or curved portion 13 which permits such auxiliary strap or hasp member to bridge the handle 2 whereby it is thought to be obvious that the device is effectually held to the receptacle 1 to hold the closure 3 thereof against removal except by one having means for releasing the looking means 14. The size of the straps 6 and 7 is such that when the same are in engagement with the handles 2 that the endless strip 4 is held against any substantial movement away from the closure 3 whereby it is thought to be obvious that such closure 3 cannot be removed until after withdrawal of the retaining device.

Although it is not imperative in all instances I have found it of great advantage to provide around the inner marginal portions of the inturned flange 5 a ply 15 of rubber or the like suitably held to such in turned portion 5 in any desired manner, the purpose of this rubber washer or the like being to permit an easy or ready removal of the retaining device in lower temperatures as I have found in practice that at the time of frost that when such provision is not made it is with difliculty that the retaining device can be removed.

While I have shown the strap 6 in the drawings as produced of a single piece of material I wish it to be understood that it is within the province of my invention to have such strap formed from a plurality of sections hinged one to the other as I have also found under certain conditions that my retaining device can be the more readily applied or removed when such strap is so constructed.

From the foregoing description of my improvements, it will be seen that the improved retaining means for receptacle covers constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and efficiency of its operation and it will also be obvious from the above description that the device is susceptible of considerable modification without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the precise formation and arrangement of the several parts, as herein set forth in carrying out my invention in practice.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device of the character described comprising a member adapted to surround the closure of a receptacle and having an inturned flange adapted to rest on the upper surface of such closure, straps depending from such member, one of such straps terminating in a hook like member and a second of such straps having an anxiliary strap member hingedly secured thereto and adapted to be swung back thereon and means for holding such auxiliary strap member against displacement when in such position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAWRENCE F. RYAN.

Witnesses FRANK RYAN, W. E. LAWSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. I 

